Australia joins torture trade ban alliance

Batons with metal spikes, grabbers that electrocute people, and electric shock belts are in the sights of a global alliance trying to ban instruments of torture.

Australia is one-of-five countries to newly join the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, which is trying to get the United Nations to ban the sale of the products.

At the UN Leaders Week meeting in New York, Foreign Minister Marise Payne joined the 60-country alliance in its push to end the torture trade.

"We've come together with one voice to say that we will not stand for this trade - not in our countries, or anywhere else in the world," European Union trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Tuesday.

The alliance wants to ban batons with metal spikes, electric shock belts, grabbers that seize people while electrocuting them, chemicals used for executions, as well as gas chambers and electric chairs.

Australia, New Zealand, Cape Verde, Palau and Vanuatu were the five new countries to join the alliance this week.

A series of international experts revealed torture is carried out daily with goods manufactured and then bought and sold internationally in a lucrative trade.